Field Level Media
Aug 19, 2012
Kemba Walker had 27 points, 11 assists and five rebounds, and the Charlotte Hornets snapped a two-game losing streak with a 123-110 victory over Bradley Beal and the visiting Washington Wizards on Friday night.
The Hornets trailed by as many as 12 in the first quarter, but they regrouped to lead at halftime and then pushed the lead up to 16 in the third quarter. Washington never got closer than seven down the stretch.
Beal put on a shooting display and finished with 46 points, five shy of his career high. He was 16 of 25 from the field with four 3-pointers.
The Hornets shuffled their lineup for the first time all season with forward Miles Bridges getting his first career start, guard Jeremy Lamb going to the bench, and Nicolas Batum moving from forward to guard. The move worked, as Batum scored 20, Lamb 16 and Bridges 14.
The Hornets also got 13 points and nine rebounds from Marvin Williams and 11 points and nine rebounds from Cody Zeller.
The Hornets had lost four of their previous five and were coming off a 38-point loss at Orlando before the All-Star break.
The Wizards suffered their third straight loss. Jeff Green scored 16, Tomas Satoransky 15, Bobby Portis 12 and Trevor Ariza 10.
The Hornets came into the game ranked seventh in the Eastern Conference playoff race, but just one-half game better than No. 8 Detroit and just one game better than Orlando and Miami at Nos. 9 and 10. The Wizards entered the game No. 11 in the Eastern Conference, three games out of the eighth spot.
The Wizards took control quickly, racing to a 28-16 lead and then leading 38-27 after one quarter. But the Hornets' bench totally outplayed the Wizards' subs to open the second quarter, and the Hornets eventually took their first lead at 43-42. Charlotte then went on to lead 65-60 at halftime, with a 38-point second quarter.
The Hornets then pushed the lead to 89-73 late in the third and led 96-87 after three quarters.
The Wizards will return home to face Indiana on Saturday. The Hornets were opening a four-game homestand and a stretch with seven of eight at home. They will host Brooklyn on Saturday.
--Field Level Media